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I have an HP ScanJet 5300C - this is a flatbed - color - with fax - email etc.  When I try to scan either using ADOBE or just the Scan software  of a document with TEXT and a parts diagram - the scan drops some of the lettering - not the parts diagram - no matter how I place the document in the scanner - does the same thing.  I have reloaded the software - I have powered down and unplugged the scanner - has USB connection - which I have into the computer not an external hub.  I am using Windows 2000 professional.  I  had the same problem years ago with a different cpu - cleared up all of a sudden. Now its doing it again.  Not much help on the HP web site as this is an old scanner.   I even defragged my cpu which is a stand alone system - no internet - just use it for documentation.

Hi Barry,
   In the past I've had scanners that I would have to set to a higher resolution to pick everything up.  There were settings in the software for DPI and i used to set it pretty high.  This was a SCSI based scanner that I had bought from Costco.  It worked awesome on higher resolution, but became extinct after a few operating system upgrades.  I now use my wife's all in one to scan and love that it will scan direct to .PDF files

Thanks,
Wayne

I didn't try the resolution - there has to be a memory issue - as I scanned 2 or 3 documents - then I get garbage - so I unplugged the power and the USB for awhile - replug and it works for a bit longer - so the memory (scanner) is corrupted somehow - it will only clear by dropping the power.  So I can get by for now - just didn't want to buy another scanner since I seldom use it anyway.  thanks wayne.

Another possibility may be that the text getting lost is lighter? Is there a setting to darken the scan a little bit? Just a thought, but it may be totally off the problem?

CH :95-

actually the lost text is darker - funny thing like a word  SLOT the O would drop!!

Could it be a situation where the software is using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to interpret the text, and if it can't figure out a letter it leaves it blank?

Is there an option to set the software to treat what you're scanning as simply an image (picture), rather than "picture and text" (despite the fact that there is text on the page)?

I would agree with Kevin, when scanning if OCR is being used, you will get problems because it is trying to interpret letters. Scanning just as a picture with OCR disabled should take care of that. Of course, unless you are going to change the lettering after it is scanned.

 Dan (tacman)

that makes sense if the problem was constant - if I unplug the usb and power - wait - re connect - scanner works for awhile - then starts dropping letters.

Are you restarting the software when this happens, too?  If so, it could still be a software issue where the OCR has issues after being used for a while.

The specs from HP says that it comes with "HP Precisionscan 3.0 scanning software with fully automated Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capability" -- again, is there a way to disable that and specify that the document you're scanning is a picture?

I am running under Adobe - when scanned image comes up "distorted" I just unplug and unpower - have restarted adobe and not restarted.  Problem has to be in the scanner memory.  Its always the top and bottom of the document - doesn't seem to loose the drawing - just goes south when it tries to scan TEXT. 

finally got a doable work around to the problem - the problem is when I scan certain documents usually an exploded parts diagram which has lines and numbers - the numbers would drop from the scan.  The FIX is to use the option scan selected areas of the document - once scanned - use the box outline to outline the entire document - then accept - and VOILA.  what a way to run an airline. 

Good to hear you got it beat.

Thanks,
Wayne

Barry,

 :244- :244- :244-

Pretty clever thing to solve the problem!

CH :95-

wow - getting a swelled head.  don't like a problem that cannot be solved.  Logic is my forte - was in the computer business since the 60s - problems always occur - the solving of problems is a challenge.  Won this one - but ?